Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Case-finding for MS prevalence studies in small communities requires a community-based approach
Joel B Cowen1, Barbara F Sjostrom, Andrea S Doughty
1University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, USA. joelc@uic.edu
Abstract:
In response to citizen concerns in 5 small Illinois towns, community-based case-finding determined the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Potential cases were identified through town meetings, publicity, advocacy groups and local volunteer outreach coordinators. Estimated prevalence based on available medical records for self-identifying individuals for 3 of the 5 communities was high (218-231 per 100,000 population) compared to other studies. Scanning databases in medical offices used in many other studies may miss MS cases; yet tracking medical records is labor-intensive and sometimes restricted by privacy guidelines. MS registries could improve case-finding accuracy and efficiency.
Related Concept Videos
Case Studies
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Data Collection by Observations
An astronomer viewing the motion and brightness of stars in the sky and recording the data is an example of observational data collection. A botanist recording...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...